COTR Magazine June 2013 | Page 19

Bythewords " thewholemessage," PopeJohnPaulIwasreferringtotheconnec- �onbetweenthe " EasterMysteryoftheRedemp�on "— inotherwords, thesuffering, death, burial, resurrec�on, andascensionofChrist, folowedbythesendingoftheHoly Spirit— andthisFeastofDivineMercy, theOctaveDayofEaster, whichfulfilsthegrace ofatonementaslivedthroughbyChristJesusandofferedtoalwhocometoHim with trust

Ċlearly, DivineMercySundayisnotanew feastestablishedtocelebrateSt. Faus- �na ' srevela�ons. Indeed, itisnotprimarilyaboutSt. Faus�naatal— norisitaltogetheranew feast! Asmanycommentatorshavepointedout, TheSecondSundayof EasterwasalreadyasolemnityastheOctaveDayofEaster; nevertheless, the�tle " DivineMercySunday " doeshighlightandamplifythemeaningoftheday. Inthisway, it recoversanancientliturgicaltradi�on, reflectedinateachinga�ributedtoSt. Augus- �neabouttheEasterOctave, whichhecaled " thedaysofmercyandpardon," andthe OctaveDayitself " thecompendium ofthedaysofmercy."

HourofMercy ~

InHisrevela�onstoSt. Faus�na, OurLordaskedforaspecialprayerandmedita�on onHisPassioneacha�ernoonatthethreeo’ clockhour, thehourthatrecalsHisdeath onthecross.

Atthreeo’ clock, imploreMymercy, especialyforsinners; and, ifonlyforabrief moment, immerseyourselfinMyPassion, par�cularlyinMyabandonmentatthe momentofagony. Thisisthehourofgreatmercy. Inthishour, Iwilrefusenothingto thesoulthatmakesarequestofMeinvirtueofMyPassion( Diary, 1320).

Aso�enasyouheartheclockstrikethethirdhour, immerseyourselfcompletelyin Mymercy, adoringandglorifyingit; invokeitsomnipotenceforthewholeworld, and par�cularlyforpoorsinners; foratthatmomentmercywasopenedwideforeverysoul. Inthishouryoucanobtaineverythingforyourselfandforothersfortheasking; itwas thehourofgraceforthewholeworld— mercytriumphedoverjus�ce.( 1572)

Mydaughter, tryyourbesttomaketheSta�onsoftheCrossinthishour, provided thatyourdu�espermitit; andifyouarenotabletomaketheSta�onsoftheCross, thenatleaststepintothechapelforamomentandadore, intheMostBlessedSacrament, MyHeart, whichisfulofmercy; andshouldyoubeunabletostepintothe chapel, immerseyourselfinprayertherewhereyouhappentobe, ifonlyforavery briefinstant.( 1572)

From thesedetailedinstruc�ons, it’ sclearthatOurLordwantsustoturnoura�en�on toHisPassionatthethreeo’ clockhourtowhateverdegreeourdu�esalow, andHe wantsustoaskforHismercy.

InGenesis18:16-32, Abraham beggedGodtoreducethecondi�onsnecessaryfor Him tobemercifultothepeopleofSodom andGomorrah.

~ 18 ~